Lego Jurassic World Review [PS Vita and 3DS]

The creative geniuses at TT games have produced yet another game under their tried and tested LEGO format.  Universal's dinosaur extravaganza Jurassic World is the latest blockbuster movie to undergo a LEGO metamorphosis, and we have to say that the results are looking good!

The game encompasses storylines from all four films in the Jurassic Park series, from the park's humble beginnings under its original creator, John Hammond, to the bone-chomping action of the ferocious Indominus Rex, which actually means 'Untamable King' in Latin.

As well as the usual LEGO gameplay, including solving various puzzles and collecting several coloured studs etc, players can create their own custom dinosaurs from various body parts collected throughout the game's twenty levels, each divided over four story chapters.

 More than twenty species of standard dinosaur breeds and over one hundred human characters can also be unlocked during the course of the game.One quirky unlockable character is Mr. DNA (the chatty, animated DNA strand who we see guiding tourists in the first and fourth films) he can be used to provide in-game hints and tips once unlocked.

The main human characters also have their own special abilities, which can help at various points during the game. For example, Nick Van Owen, the wildlife photographer from Jurassic Park: Lost World (played by Vince Vaughn,) can now use the flash on his camera to temporarily daze and confuse the attacking dinosaurs!

As well as the Story Mode levels, the game also has two open world settings, Isla Nublar and Isla Sorna.  One of the most exciting features of the open-world gameplay is the ability to play as a rampaging dinosaur in certain areas. Furthermore, the game does feature a two-person Co-Op Mode, which means that your friends can also join in the fun.

LEGO Jurassic World also brings some interesting features such as a brand new Weather mechanic and a whole day and night cycle, which helps to vary the gameplay a little. Nevertheless, this game follows the tried and tested LEGO format that we are all familiar with pretty closely, and the new mechanics do not vastly add anything to the playable portions of the game.

Another aspect of the game is the various 'Chase' sequences, which involve rapidly pressing buttons in order to avoid being eaten by some large carnivorous dinosaur. Although these chases look visually impressive, the actual gameplay mechanics can make them seem a bit boring after a while.

Having Trouble viewing this trailer? CLICK HERE

In conclusion, this is a very good, funny, visually-beautiful addition to the LEGO games franchise. If you are already a fan of the LEGO games, then this title will fit very nicely into your collection and the gameplay will be very familiar to you.

If you are an adult gamer who has yet to experience a LEGO video game, you may find that LEGO Jurassic World is not the best title to start with as the chase sequences and fairly simple puzzles may become repetitive after a while.

Nevertheless, LEGO Jurassic World's simple mechanics help to make it an excellent game for children or adult casual gamers who are looking for something entertaining but uncomplicated to play. LEGO Jurassic World is a quirky game, packed with humour that should appeal to the whole family. Overall Mini Gamers rating: 7/10

The LEGO Movie Videogame - Can LEGO Avoid The Curse Of The Movie Tie-In?

Traditionally, video games developed solely as film tie-ins do not have the best reputation for providing quality gaming entertainment, with many such tie-ins being accused of being at best,  shallow, interactive repeats of the actual films they represent, and at worst, action-driven, pointless, money-grabbing entertainment titles, which really have very little to do with the actual films they are named after at all.

An article written by Charlie Roberts from Gamemoir.com best summed up this general attitude when he wrote: "With every summer blockbuster that hits our screens these days, there always seems to be a tie-in game limping along behind it, desperately trying to wring out the last few dregs of cash from the pockets of those that the film didn’t drain completely of funds. And let’s be honest – they always suck..." [Sourced from: http://gamemoir.com/2013/08/13/tie-in-games-suck/]

Nevertheless, it cannot be easy to produce a game that can successfully live up to the hype and excitement caused by its big budget film counterpart. However, this is exactly what film producers Warner Bros. are trying to achieve with their latest film, The LEGO Movie, which itself has been inspired in part by the success of the licensed LEGO video game series, made popular by TT games  and the LEGO Creator video games' series developed by Superscape.

As with any major movie, the video game tie-in promises to be equally special. So, what exactly has the aptly-titled The LEGO Movie Videogame got to offer the gaming community? Well, this game is of course based on the plot of the film, which is set entirely in the LEGO universe and centres around an ordinary LEGO Mini-figure called Emmett who works as a construction worker, and who is mistaken as being the Special (the greatest Master Builder who can save the universe).

With the help of an old wizard named Vitruvius, and a tough young woman named Wyldstyle,  as well as Batman, Uni-Kitty, Benny, and a pirate named Metalbeard, Emmet has to forget his usual routine of simply building things according to their instructions, and discover the power of his own imagination if he is ever going to defeat the evil Lord Business - a tyrant who is bent on destroying the universe on Taco Tuesday and recreating it as he sees fit by gluing it all together.

In the game, players must take control of Emmett and his merry band of recruits. Players must explore the in-game environments to collect and use LEGO instruction pages. In turn, these pages can then be used to build construction sets in order to harness the awesome power of the so-called Master Builders.

This game will be the first LEGO title to feature a new kind of animation style that has apparently been modelled on the movements of actual real-world LEGO Minifigures. Furthermore, the game will feature more than ninety separate characters inspired by the film and a total of fifteen exciting levels.

The game (like the film) has been made with kids and family gaming very much in mind. The usual hilarious cutscenes found in previous LEGO game titles can also be seen here, and the colourful environments will be instantly appealing to younger gamers.

Tom Stone, Managing Director at TT Games Publishing said recently: "We’re thrilled to be able to give kids the joy of re-living Emmett’s adventures in becoming virtual Master Builders with The LEGO Movie Videogame. Players will be taking on the ultimate mission to save the LEGO world and use their virtual building prowess to build unimaginable sets and creations.” 
[sourced from: http://www.ttgames.com/games/lego-movie-videogame.php]


The game's teaser trailer, which was released in December last year, also shows a number of gameplay elements that will be used during the game:

* If you are having difficulty viewing the trailer in your current browser, please CLICK HERE.

The LEGO Movie premieres today in all major UK cinemas, with the game being released on all available formats on Friday the 14th of February 2014. It is not yet certain whether this game will match up to the high quality of the other LEGO Videogames, but Mini Gamers is hopeful that the game will find itself ranked alongside the usual top-notch titles developed by TT Games to date.

HAVE YOUR SAY...

Are you looking forward to the release of The LEGO Movie Videogame?

Why do movie tie-ins always seem to have a bad reputation?

What can be done to make quality movie tie-ins in the future?

If you have any thoughts about this game or about movie tie-ins in general, then please  leave us a comment and let us know. Mini Gamers loves hearing from you!

New 3DS Games Announced: Kid Icarus: Uprising, Mario Kart 3D, StarFox 64 3D, and Super Mario 3D, Luigi's Mansion 2 and Lego City Stories all confirmed for 2011/2012...

Nintendo were extremely busy at this year's E3 conference, as well as unveiling their new portable Wii U controller, the company also gave details of several new 3DS titles, which would debut over the next two years.

First on the list was the highly-anticipated Mario Kart 3D, which, according to the CEO of Nintendo America,  Reggie Fils-Amie, would be a "tricked-out version,[which] you haven't driven before..."

A new feature exclusive Mario Kart 3D, is how characters now interact with each other while driving. Characters now not only turn their heads when another racer is nearby, but they also have the choice to 'make faces'  as well, such as glaring at their opponents.

The accompanying E3 Trailer showed Mario and friends racing around never-before-seen tracks. It also showed hand-glider races, and even included some underwater race environments too, which of course will all be viewed in full-3D when the game debuts later this year.

The trailer also gave hints of the various customisable options that would be included in the new game, such as bigger 4X4 tyres, new sticker and logo designs and various different vehicles to drive.

This game is sure to be a big hit for Mario fans when it gets released in the UK. If you can't wait until then, you can watch the trailer for yourself by clicking HERE.

Mario isn't alone in making his 3DS debut either. Mario's brother, Luigi, is also set to star in his own 3D RPG adventure - Luigi's Mansion 2.

Nintendo were keen to point out that this game is NOT merely a port of the original Gamecube version, but has been especially created from scratch for use on the 3DS console.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the original game, Luigi must collect poltergeists from a haunted mansion with the help of an adapted vacuum cleaner called the 'Poltergust'.

Some of the new 3DS features will also include a strobe function in which Luigi's torch can be used to stun ghosts before they are sucked up with the Poltergust. There will also be multiple mansions this time around, which will host different kinds of ghosts, each of which must be captured using different methods to unlock new areas and treasure chests.

The Poltergust has also been upgraded for the 3DS. As well as sucking up various spectres, it can now be used to reveal secret passages, clean up piles of treasure or simply just collect coins.

It sounds like a very fun little game, but it could be a while before fans in the UK actually get to enjoy Luigi's Mansion 2  for themselves, as the game is not expected to reach UK stores until 2012.

 If you would like more information, you can watch the E3 trailer of the game by clicking HERE.

One of the 3DS games announced for release in 2011 however, is Star Fox 64 3D. For those of you who have never heard of this game before, Star Fox 64 3D is a platform shooter game. Players must take control of the central character, Fox McCloud, as he fights against various enemies.

  The game, which was originally released for the Nintendo 64 console in 1993, has once again been given a total revamp for use with the 3DS. This time around, players can choose to make use of the 3DS' gyroscopic sensors if they wish - tilting the console up and down, left and right in order to fly the special Arwing aircraft.

Furthermore, a group-play multiplayer option will be enhanced by the use of the 3DS cameras, which can record the player's reactions as they play, which can then be transmitted to the rest of the group.

The enhanced gyroscopic features and 3D graphics should help to make Star Fox 64 3D a really enjoyable Flight-Simulation experience as well as a general Platform Shooter.

 

The game is set to debut in North America on the 11th of September 2011 and is expected to be released in the rest of Europe soon after. The Star Fox 64 3D trailer can be viewed by clicking HERE.

Another long-awaited 3DS game to be given a 2011 release date time-frame is Kid Icarus: Uprising. Players take the role of Pit, an angelic hero with the ability to fly between worlds and fight evil forces. In Kid Icarus: Uprising, Pit must defeat a reborn Medusa as she seeks to destroy mankind.

According to Nintendo, Kid Icarus: Uprising will make full use of the 3DS system including the Augmented Reality features, although it is unclear exactly how this might work at present. The game also features many multiplayer options including "Three-On-Three Multiplayer action"
[Reggie Fils-Aime, CEO of Nintendo America).

Kid Icarus: Uprising is scheduled to be released in America at the latter part of 2011. No other details about the game have been released at this time. If you want to see the E3 trailer for yourself, please click HERE.

Two surprise announcements from the Nintendo Conference at E3 included a 3DS version of the ever-popular Super Smash Bros Brawl 3D, which will apparently debut alongside the 'Wii U' version in 2012. Apparently, amongst other new additions to the series, there will be an appearance by the PS3 Infamous character, Cole Macgrath. However, that is all we know about the 3DS version for now.

The other surprise announcement was that another 'Wii U' title would also be getting the 3DS treatment some time next year. Lego City Stories is an open-world adventure game developed by the brains at Travellers Tales. No further details about the game have been released yet.

All of the games showcased at this this year's E3 conference were amazing. Mini Gamers looks forward to bringing you more news about these 3DS games as it develops.

One To Watch: Lego Pirates Of The Caribbean (DS/DSi/3DS/PSP)

Lego Pirates of the Caribbean launches this weekend, and it promises to be an hilarious swashbuckling adventure for all concerned. Mini Gamers takes a look at the new features we can expect in this latest title from the ever-popular Lego Games series.

As well as featuring over seventy different playable characters, the game will include storylines from all four blockbuster films, including the latest release, Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides.

Furthermore, The 3DS version will also utilise the special StreetPass function in order to activate two-player sword fights between gamers' consoles.

 

The gameplay will follow the generics from past Lego games, including the collection of silver and gold gaming studs and the need to swap between different characters in order to harness their unique special abilities to unlock new areas of the game.

The main character abilities are as follows:

Captain Jack - uses his compass to point the way to the next level or to whatever his heart desires.

Will Turner  - Can throw axes at certain types of targets within the game.

Elizabeth Swan - Can jump higher than the other two characters and so can reach places that would be otherwise out of bounds.

Zombies [unlockable character] require no use of Oxygen when swimming and can therefore explore ocean depths more fully.

 The new HUB for this game will be Port Royal. The hub will open up into different areas as players progress through the game. A lot of time and effort has been put in to the creation of this game. There is a total of twenty different levels per each Story Mode, which means a lot of items to find and characters to unlock.

Overall, this is shaping up to be a very interesting game. Fans of the Lego series are bound to enjoy this title and fans of the film will enjoy the hilarious cutscenes.

This is definitely one to add to the games collection. If you still haven't made up your mind though, this trailer should help you to decide:

Lego Pirates of the Caribbean will be available to buy from Friday the 13th May 2011.

Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars Delayed Until 2011

Yes, it is sad but true - Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars will now be unavailable until at least the 25th of  February 2011.

The other Lego Star Wars  games have already proved themselves to be a massive hit with fans, bringing in combined sales of over 20 million units worldwide, and the third game also received a warm welcome when it was showcased at this year's E3 conference in Los Angeles.

News of the delay can only come as a disappointment to the many fans who have already preordered this game. Nevertheless, Tom Stone, director at TT Games still insists that the new title will be the best game in the LEGO series to date. He said: “The team at TT is working hard at making this simply the best Lego game ever with all new gameplay and features never before seen in a Lego game.”

Lego Star Wars III would indeed seem to be a huge undertaking.  The game will include all the characters from both seasons of the hugely popular animated television series, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, as well as some fan-favorite characters from the beloved theatrical Star Wars Saga.

Furthermore, the game will feature brand new battle modes and an upgraded level builder, allowing the creation of customized bases and in-game battlefields.

Gamers can also choose whether to play as a Jedi or Separatist with all-new character abilities, such as Squad command, long distance Jedi attacks and Grapple Tie-Ups, all within a new, easy-to-navigate hub.

Mini Gamers is saddened to hear about the delay, but if this title is anything like its predecessors, then it is sure to take the gaming world by storm next year. Look for further news about Lego Star Wars III nearer the release date.

Further Delays For EyePet (PSP)

It has happened again. Mini Gamers has just received word that EyePet on PSP will now be delayed until the 5th of November 2010.

This game is one in a series of recent PSP titles to be delayed more than once. The fifth game in the hugely popular Metal Gear Solid franchise, Metal Gear Solid: Peacewalker, was delayed from the 25th of May until the 2nd of July 2010.

Then the PSP version of Lego Harry Potter was famously delayed from the 25th of June until the 13th of August this year, causing distress to many of the PSP-owning  Lego Games fans around the world.

Next was UFC Undisputed 2010, which was delayed from the end of May until the beginning of September 2010, dispite the fact that the game had already topped the UK pre-order charts.

Now EyePet (PSP) is set to continue the trend. So what is happening here? Is it - as some sceptics have suggested - merely an attempt to delay the most popular titles until the 2010 Christmas rush, or could it be further evidence of Sony PSP's further decline in the current gaming market?

Whatever the reason, delays such as this often cause confusion and disappointment for millions of gamers and can even sour the experience of owning a delayed game when it is finally released to the public. Mini Gamers sincerely hopes that the reason for this delay (and any future delays) can be rectified soon.

 Remember to check in with the Mini Gamers blogsite for more news on this subject as it happens.

HAVE YOUR SAY...

How has the delay of EyePet and the other games in this article made you feel? Why do you think that PSP games in particular seem to be suffering from long delays at the moment? Should games producers be allowed to change release dates on games without a proper reason?

If you have a comment and wish to share your views with other readers on this site then please feel free to click on the 'Comments' link below this post (or fill in the comments box if viewing this post in a separate window). We would love to hear your views.

Friday the 13th Proves Lucky for Lego Harry Potter Fans...

Fans across the country must be rubbing their eyes in disbelief today as Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 on PSP is finally released to the public.

The PSP version of the latest Lego-themed game was supposed to be released at the end of March this year but has suffered almost three months of delays instead. This was despite the fact that Lego Harry Potter was released on every other console format (including the Nintendo DS handheld system) on the 25th of June 2010.

No reason has ever been given as to why the PSP version of Lego Harry Potter was consistently delayed. Mini Gamers contacted both TT Games and WB Games to ask for details about why the game was delayed, but both parties refused to comment.

The PSP version was successfully released in North America on the 29th of June 2010 alongside all the other gaming formats, and the game itself has shifted 2.7 million units since that date, according to the Time Warner second-quarter financial report.

Now, the hope is that the game will do just as well in the UK, if not better. However, such a lengthy delay in the game's release has meant that many fans have already chosen to purchase it on another format, which is likely to have a negative impact on the UK PSP sales of Lego Harry Potter from the start.

Moreover, the impact of the delays are still being felt by the retail industry, as many UK retailers have failed to stock the game in time for today's release.

For example, At the time that this post was being constructed, Play.com and HMV were still awaiting stock, whilst Zavvi and Asda both claimed that the game would not be released until the 31st of August 2010.

Nevertheless, if you still haven't given up hope of owning this game on the PSP then you can now purchase it from Game, GameStation,  and Amazon, amongst others.

On the whole, the Lego Games series has always been an overwhelming success, but the confusion and disappointment caused by the recent delays is something that will not be forgotten easily by PSP fans who have been waiting several months for a game that they so desperately wanted. When it comes to the release of Lego Harry Potter, is it too little too late?

HAVE YOUR SAY...

How has the delay of Lego Harry Potter on PSP made YOU feel? Are you relieved that the game is finally available to buy? Will you be buying any new Lego Games on the PSP in the future?

If you have been affected by the delay of this game and wish to share your views with others then why not let us know how you are feeling by leaving a comment in the comments box? We welcome your thoughts on this important gaming issue.

New Date for Lego Harry Potter PSP Release...

It has been an anxious wait for PSP fans across the country since they were first informed that the PSP version of Lego Harry Potter would be delayed, and just when it seems that the end is in sight, the game seems set to undergo further delays.

Mini Gamers last reported that a new release date of the 6th of August 2010 had been given by the game's producers, but this has since been changed to the 13th of August 2010.

This will be the fourth time that the game has been delayed since its original release date at the end of June this year, and once again, no explanation has been given as to why the game has not been released yet.

Mini Gamers contacted both WB games and TT Games to ask them why the game had been delayed for so long, but both companies refused to comment.



Thus, the debate about when the PSP version of Lego Harry Potter will finally be available in the shops looks set to continue for now.

However, like many of you out there, we at Mini Gamers are starting to wonder if the game will ever be released onto PSP at all. Watch this space!

Yet More Confusion for Lego Harry Potter Fans...

It has happened again, Game are now claiming that Lego Harry Potter for the PSP is to suffer further delays and will not be available in store until the 6th of August 2010.

The news, which was reported to us in a comment  by one of the Mini Gamer readers, comes as another shock to the many PSP users who had expected to receive their copy of the game on Friday 30th July.

This latest delay has led  to greater frustration against the game's developers, Travellers Tales, who still refuse to provide a definite reason as to why the PSP version of this game  has been consistently delayed since May this year.

LEGO HARRY POTTER TRAILER - YEAR 2

To make matters worse, Mini Gamers decided to further investigate claims that the PSP version had been delayed once more, and found to our surprise that most other UK retailers seem blissfully unaware of the new release date.

We visited Play.com, HMV, Zavvi, Woolworths and Asda, who all cite the release date of the PSP version as either the 29th or 30th of July, depending on when their new stock is delivered.

If, as we suspect, Lego Harry Potter for the PSP has truly been delayed once more - and is not simply  delayed in one single outlet such as Game - then many other PSP fans who have already pre-ordered this game can expect to have their hopes dashed via emails and letters sent to them in the next few weeks.

Mini Gamers wonders how long it will be before fans abandon all hopes of ever owning this game on the PSP system and choose to buy it in another format instead.

HAVE YOUR SAY...

Has the delay of the PSP version of Lego Harry Potter made you feel angry or disappointed? How did you feel when you were informed that the release date had been changed for the third time? Are you looking forward to eventually getting a copy of the game, or has the delay marred your excitement? Will you now be buying this game in another format now rather than on the PSP?

Here at Mini Gamers, we are interested in hearing your views. Please feel free to leave a comment in the comments box by clicking the 'Comments' link at the bottom of the post (or simply fill in the Comments Box below if viewing the post in a separate window,) and share your thoughts on this issue with others.

21 days until Lego Harry Potter?

It has been one of the hottest debates amongst PSP gamers of late, but it now seems that the final release date for the PSP version of Lego Harry Potter is the 30th of July 2010. Mini Gamers recently reported that the PSP version  game had been delayed by the publishers TT games.

We also contacted them to ask why the game had been delayed when all the other formats of the game had already been released to the public. TT games has so far declined to comment on its decision.

So, it now seems like it will only be another few weeks before PSP gamers can enjoy the rich spoils of this long-awaited addition to the Lego Games series. However, this does not make up for the thousands of  fans who have pre-ordered this game only to be disappointed. We are all keeping our fingers crossed that the release date will not be changed again between now and the end of the month.

HAVE YOUR SAY...

Has the delay of the PSP version of Lego Harry Potter made you feel angry or disappointed? Did you preorder the game? How did you feel when you were informed that the release date had been changed? Why do you think the game might have been delayed? Are you looking forward to eventually getting a copy of the game, or has the delay marred your excitement?

Here at Mini Gamers, we are interested in hearing your views. Please feel free to leave a comment in the comments box by clicking the 'comments' link at the bottom of the post and share your thoughts on this issue with others.

Harry Potter Release Date Debate

There seems to be some debate  about the final release date for the PSP version of Lego Harry Potter. Those of you who have been following the Mini Gamers blogsite for a while now will know that the PSP version was delayed by TT games in June this year and was scheduled to be released at the beginning of July. However, the actual release date now seems the source of some confusion amongst some UK Videogame retailers.

The original release date was supposed to be 7th July 2010. However, this no longer seems to be the case, and to make matters worse, there is clear disagreement as to when the PSP version will now be released to the public. The following gives details of some of the major UK retailers and their release date for Lego Harry Potter (PSP)

Game: (http://www.game.co.uk/)

This retailer states that the game will be released in one week's time on the 9th of July 2010 and is offering a free DVD of the first Harry Potter film with every purchase.

GameStation: http://www.gamestation.co.uk/) (

This seller seems to agree with the 9th of July 2010 release date as well.

Play.com (UK): (http://www.play.com/)

Play.com is now saying that Lego Harry Potter PSP will not be released until the 29th of July 2010.

HMV: (http://hmv.co.uk/)
Again, this retailer seems to agree that the release date is the 29th of July 2010.

Asda: (http://www.asda.co.uk/)

This supermarket retailer is saying that the game will not be released until the 30th of July 2010.

Zavvi: (http://www.zavi.com/)

This retailer seems to agree that the release date for the PSP version is now the 30th July 2010.

Woolworths: (http://www.woolworths.co.uk/)

The Woolworths online store also says that the game will not be released until 30th July 2010.

The release of a new game is a treacherous minefield at the best of times, with dates often being subject to change at a moment's notice, but this is made worse when multiple release dates are given. It is also unclear why the PSP version of this game has been delayed whilst its counterparts on other formats are already available in stores across the country...

Lego Harry Potter Teaser Trailer 

This latest news is a further disapointment for PSP users who had preordered the game for the end of June. Like you, we at Mini Gamers are hoping that the release date for the PSP version of this brilliant game will be sooner rather than later, but at the moment there is no way to tell when the game will actually be released. Keep tuned to the Mini Gamers blogsite for further details.

HAVE YOUR SAY...

Has the delay of the PSP version of Harry Potter made you feel angry or disappointed? Did you pre-order the game? How did you feel when you were informed that the release date had been changed? Why do you think the game might have been delayed?

  Here at Mini Gamers, we are interested in hearing your views. Please feel free to leave a comment in the comments box by clicking the 'comments' link at the bottom of the post and share your thoughts on this issue with others.

Game Of The Week: Lego Harry Potter: Years 1-4 (DS & PSP)

Lego Harry Potter has arrived! This game allows players to act as the boy-wizard himself, and features many impressive elements from the first four books and films in the Harry Potter series. The game has gained much hype during its production, but the final product is a masterpiece and is definitely another smash for TT Games, who produce the Lego Games series. Please note, that the following is a review of the DS version of Lego Harry Potter only, as the PSP version has not been released yet, although we are sure that it will be just as spectacular.

Players start the game in The Room Of Requirement and move from there into the main story modes. There are many magical skills to learn, including Levitation, Transfiguration (changing one object into another) and Potions. All interactions and spell-casting is controlled by the stylus.

Furthermore, there are 140 different playable characters to choose from. These include Harry's two best pals, Ron and Hermione, as well as a few quirkier characters like Hagrid's faithful Neapolitan Mastiff, Fang. Each character has its own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to magic and broom-flying etc, which helps to keep the gameplay fresh and exciting.

The most impressive element in Lego Harry Potter is the Game Map. Almost every iconic location from the Harry Potter universe has been included here - shop for wands in Diagon Alley, drink Butter Beers in The Three Broomsticks, meet Centaurs, Spiders and Giants in The Forbidden Forest, and explore Hogwarts until your heart is content. Furthermore, all of the locations are presented in the 3D Lego-style that fans of the series have come to expect.

One of the major pitfalls of other Harry Potter games to date has been how to get players to navigate around such a magnificant universe without getting lost or bored. Lego Harry Potter has simplified this very adequetely, by adding a marker on your locations map, which tells you where to go next. This will also help younger gamers to navigate more easily.

As well as the traditional Story Mode, Lego Harry Potter features some interesting side missions for players to undertake if they wish to do so. Most of which, include some form of puzzle-solving and can often lead players into the more complex and secretive areas of Hogwarts. Of course, there are also the usual Lego Studs to collect along the way. Moreover, the game also features a co-op mode, so you can play alongside your friends and help to defeat the evil Lord Voldermort.

In conclusion, this is a brilliant game that is likely to interest gamers of any age. The main stories are interspersed with hillarious cutscenes and will keep the whole family entertained. This is definitely one game everybody should own. Overall rating: 10/10.   

Lego Harry Potter Delayed For PSP

The release date for the PSP version of  "Lego Harry Potter" has been delayed. For PlayStation Portable fans of the Lego Games series this news has obviously come as a huge disappointment, as many people have already pre-ordered the game and expected to receive it in the post this Friday.The delay will not affect any other formats, including the Nintendo DS, so those gamers can still look forward to receiving their game at the expected time.

 No reason has been given for the delay as yet. Nevertheless, it should not be too long a wait for PSP users, as the game is going be released two weeks later - 7th July 2010, and it has to be said that Lego Harry Potter looks set to be another gaming smash for the developers,  TT Games. Hopefully, it will be worth the extra wait...